Meditating in a queue? Tell me more!

by Tali Samoylenko on Thursday 14 December 2017

Feel like you’re just way
too busy to stop and take a breather? Interested in meditation and mindfulness
but just don’t have the time? Taking a moment to yourself doesn’t have to be a
hassle. In fact, there are a few super easy techniques you can practise to feel
calmer and more relaxed in just a few minutes.

So, whether you’re stuck in
traffic, waiting in a queue or looking for ways to wind down before bed, here
are a few helpful tips:

1.
Breathe

The first step to
meditation is effective breathing. That means inhaling deep into your diaphragm
instead of taking short, shallow breaths into your chest. You’ll notice your
belly moving in and out when you do it correctly. If you’re new to deep
breathing and it doesn’t come naturally, try laying on your back and taking
long, drawn out breaths. When you lie down, you automatically breathe into your
diaphragm. Pop your hands onto your belly to remember what this feels like so
that you can reference the feeling in future.

Start all of your
meditation sessions by breathing deeply and slowly. It’ll help to calm you down
and prepare your body too!

2.
Be mindful

Now that you’re much more
relaxed, it’s time to pay attention to your surroundings. Start recognising
sensations – like the feeling of your seat against your back, or the way your
clothes rest on your skin. Begin focusing on your feet, and work your way up
all the way to your neck and face, relaxing each body part as you move up. If
you’re short on time, you can stop here, but if you’ve set aside some ‘you-time’,
read on!

3.
Let your thoughts flow

Awesome! Now you’re really
ready to zone out. Let’s get even deeper into it. A common misconception about
meditation is that your mind needs to be completely quiet. This is entirely
false – meditation is really anything you want it to be, and is personal
to every individual. If you get something out of your session, you’re doing it
right!

A great way to go further
into your meditation practice is to close your eyes and continue breathing
deeply, observing all of your thoughts passing through your mind as if they
were visitors. There’s no need to engage with any of your thoughts and there’s
no pressure to have (or not have) them. If you’re struggling, just continue to
breathe and pay attention to the ways your senses are being stimulated. It’ll
take your mind off the world around you and give you the break your body has
most likely been waiting for.

If you’re looking for a new
way to unwind and take care of your mental health, give one of our yoga or pilates
classes a go! They’re focused on helping you take
time out of your busy day to reenergise and reconnect with yourself.